Monday, December 20, 2010

Week of Sweets: Day 3, Molasses Cookies


Imagine sitting before a plate of the twelve best cookies created by bakers in your tri-county area. Your task: consume each tasty morsel, rate every cookie in a variety of categories, and consult with your food-loving peers to determine the ultimate holiday cookie.

Yep. It was just as fun as it sounds.

And no, I didn't tire of eating cookies (although I did save a portion of each cookie for Adam. Except for two. They were so delicious I couldn't resist eating the whole thing. What can I say? I can be cookie-selfish at times.).

Last month I met with fellow members of local newspaper's Food Panel to judge cookies for the Annual Holiday Cookie Contest. The winning cookie was voted unanimously as the best in the bunch: simple, small, and oh-so-Christmas-y, we chose a White Chocolate-Dipped Molasses Cookie as the 2010 winner.

Yesterday I baked a batch of the winning recipe with my mom and sister during our annual Holiday Cookie-Baking Day. We forgot to pick up white chocolate, so ours weren't dipped. They're still delightful, but I definitely recommend the white chocolate for an extra hint of decadence.

Now, it's time to go eat some more holiday treats. Because that's what we do in December, right?

What treats are gracing your holiday cookie trays this year?


Molasses Cookies (plus deliciously optional white chocolate coating)
(recipe from Pat H.--winner of the Dominion Post Annual Holiday Cookie Contest)

This cookie received rave reviews from our panel for its tender, moist crumb, its rich ginger/molasses flavor, and the simple elegance (and delicious addition!) of white chocolate. You'll love them without the white chocolate, too. These babies are going to be a new staple on my holiday cookie trays.


Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp. ground cloves
  • 3/4 tsp. ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 cups flour
  • Optional: White melting chocolate

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 and coat cookie sheets with cooking spray.

2) Cream shortening, sugar, egg, and molasses together until fluffy. Add dry ingredients and mix until well-combined. Roll into small balls, and then roll in decorators' sugar. Place on cookie sheet and gently press down on each cookie to flatten. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool.

3) If desired (and who wouldn't desire this?!), dip half of each cookie in white chocolate and place on wax paper to cool/firm up.




13 comments:

  1. I love the sprinkles on these :) (But I'm also a sprinkle fanatic!) I want your judging job...it sounds like so much fun!

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  2. these sound good! today i made hershey kiss cookies... they're my absolute favorite!

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  3. I love molasses cookies. Never thought to use sprinkles though - so festive!

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  4. Whaaaat? You got to judge a cookie contest? You're so lucky! Thank you for sharing the winning recipe with us :) I'd like to make these.

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  5. i have to glance and run, you always make me want cookies ;)

    haha - i sill love ya though!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  6. That is a contest worth judging! Sounds like a blast! The truffels you wrote about the other day, a girl at work brought some in that where made with cake and frosting then coated in chocolate! Now I GOTTA try the oreo!

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  7. What a great job to have! These cookies sound like they deserved winning the contest- ginger molasses cookies are my favorites!

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  8. I feel like I'm missing out on molasses cookies since I've never had them! The sprinkles are a nice touch to make up for the white chocolate. Being the judge for a cookie contest sounds awesome! It's right up there with "ice cream tester"... :)

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  9. I love molasses cookies. This recipe is a must make. Maybe santa will like them too?

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  10. I absolutely love molasses cookies. These look so good!

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  11. I really got to get some molasses. There are so many recipes out there I want to try!! I made your sugared nuts by the way. You are totally right about them. They are amazing!!

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  12. Sounds like a fun job to me!! You can never have enough cookies haha ;-) Speaking of cookies, molasses are my fav, and I love how festive yours look!

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